Life-boat and launching mechanism therefor.



J. McGOLDRlCK.

LIFE BOAT AND LAUNCHING MECHANISM THEREFOR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 23, 1913.

1 1 34,630.. Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

elf/ Torna o 7 IE NORRIS PETERS 50.. PHOTO-LITHo.. WASHINGTON, n C.

- J. McGOLDRICK.

LIFE BOAT AND LAUNCHING MECHANISM THEREFOR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 23, I913.

Patented Apr. 6, 1915;

3 SHEETSSHEET 2 Q/qhlmwow THE NORRIS PETERS CO. PHOTO-LITHCL, WASHINGTON, D. c.

LMcGOL DRlCK. LIFE BOAT AND LAUNCHING MECHANISM'THEREFOR.

APPLICATIONFILED JULY 23. 1913.

1,1 34,630. Pa tented Apr. 6, 1915.

3 SHEETSSHEBT 3.

witnesses JOHNlVIoGOLDBICK, or BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

Linn-Boar AND 'LAnivonme MEGHANISMTHEREEOB.

Launching Mechanism Therefor, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements on the device shown and described in my U. S. Patent #1,022',432, granted tome April 9, 1912, the object thereof being to provide means by which'the removable'boatcover shown in that application may be in .the form of and used itself as a boat 'or raft.

For this purpose it comprises a boat-cover in the form of a boat or raft, which when in place upon the boat is inverted. With it I employ proper securing means to hold it in place, together with proper releasing mechanisms, the, securing means and releasing mechanism being of the general type shown in my prior patent.

It further comprises means by which such cover-boat may, after the lowering of the main boat, be turned to its erect position and lowered, all by the aid of the falls by which the main boat itself is handled.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which corresponding parts are designated by corresponding marks of reference,

Figure 1 is an iii-board elevation of a boat having-my invention applied thereto; Fig.

, 2is a vertical transverse section on the lines X?VX of'Fighl. Fig. 8 is an en'larged fragmental view of certain parts shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 illustrates in half section and in end view, respectively, the cover-boat in the'position it assumes when turned over,

and ready for lowering. Fig. 5' is a fragme'ntal side elevation of the cover-boat in its inverted position. Fig. 6 is a corresponding view of the cover-boat in its erect position. Fig. 7 is a fragmental .plan view of the end of the cover-boat in erect position. The main boat 1 when swung in-lboard, rests on a pluralityof pivoted chocks 2,each of which is locked erect by an eccentric 14 fast on a corresponding shaft 13 mounted in the chock-block as in my prior application. The shafts 13 project from side to side of the main boat beneath the'same, and each has rigidly secured to one end thereof,

an arm 13 the upper end of which projects i Specification of Letters Patent. Application fiIedJ'uly 23, 1913. Serial No. 780,726.

Pate te Apr. 6, 1915.

formed therein project, whenthe cover-boat is in place, thesprin'g-p-ressedbolts9 carrle'd bythe latter. I These spring bolts are 'adapted'to be retracted for the purpose of releasing the gripes formed by the arms 13, by latches 4 pivoted in 'the-covenboat and having shoulders 45* thereon which I engage the inner'lower edge of the gunwale 3 of the through fair-leaders 20 cover-boat. Thus the shoulders 4* upon the latches 4: when the cover-boat is in place,

afford means for securing'such cove'rboat to the main boat while the'bolts not only hold the cover-boat in place upon the main boat, but by their engagement with the arms 13 lock the main boatdown upon the chocks. In-order to accommodate the arms 13, to boats of different depths, such lever arms are preferably formed in two parts 13 and 18 united by a slot and 'pin connection which may be adjusted and set when so ad-' justed. The positions of the arms 13 in respect to the vertical is such that :when the arms are released from the boat-cover, they will fall by gravity, throwing up their eccentrics and releasing the boat-chocks and tween the'members 13 and 13 is the usual in srTEs ATENT OFFICE Y main boat. The lower end of these latches are connected to halyards '20 which pass secured on the bolt and pin connectionin which the bolt is adjusted and clamped at any point. in the slot in the member 13 the pin portion of the connection being pivoted in the member 13, thus permitting the'lower members 13 of the arms to fall in arc of circles, and with- Y in the boat gunwales.

Between the davits 15 on which the boatis swung is mounted a spreader 16 and theredraw the upper members from the apertures leasing ropes 30 0f the-cover boat pass through proper pulleys and fair-leaders upon the spreader and davits to a suitable winch 31 upon each of the davits, there'being one of 'these boat-releasing ropes 30 at each end ofv the boat, each of such ropes having the 11001130 caught in the-bight of the corresponding releasing halyard 20.

The operation of launching the boat of the device as before described is substan-' tially the same as that-shown in'my prior patent. In so launching the a. boat, the winches are operated 'to slightly lift the cover-boat and to thereby place strain upon theboat-releasing ropes, whereupon the locking mechanism-secur1ng the cover-boat to the main boat will be actuated to release the boat cover from the boat and to release the gripe structure. The arms 13 fall down by gravity, releasing the chocksand upon now swinging the boat outward, the checks Wlll also fall, whereupon the main boat can be lowered in the usual way, leaving the coverboat suspended by the boat-releasing ropes 30. 7

If the main boat is to be carried suspended from the davits, and the chocks and gripe structure are not used, the lowering of the main boat will place strain on the releasing halyards 20 which will retract the latches I, thus releasing the main boat and cover-boat. The former may be then lowered leaving the cover-boat suspended.

The cover-boat 32 itself is in the general form of a life-boat having blunt ends formed by air-chambers 32 at each end of a cock-pit.

Having reference to the cover-boat in its inverted position, on each of its side structures are gunwales 35 adapted when the cover-boat is on the main-boat to lie upon the outside of the main-boat gunwales 3 and having at each end a projecting lip 31 which projects over the covers 3 of the fore and aft air chambers of the boat, thus effectually sealing and closing in such boat. The releasing halyards 20 may pass through suitable apertures formed in such projecting lips. The coaming 31 of the cock-pit of the cover-boat extends below the gunwales of the cover-boat, the space intermediate of the two being covered as is usual in boatconstruction. The locking structure comprising the bolts and latches are fastened to the fore and aft coaming of the cock-pit and thus no apertures are necessarily formed in the walls of such cock-pit, or in the airchambers at the ends thereof. To avoid this, the air-chambers themselves may have depressions 32 formed in their lower walls to receive the pivotal points of the latches. Within the cock-pit of the cover-boat may be properly secured the equipment desired or required for the navigation of the cover boat, which may also possess other constructional features common to life boats.

To suitable points on opposite sides of the center and on the upper faces of the fore and aft tanks 32" (considering the coverboat in erect position) suitable eyes 33 are secured through which pass the links 34:,

. the upper ends of which engage such eyes by elongated loops 3%, while the upper ends of the two links on the corresponding ends of the cover-boat are each received by a ring 343, to which is swiveled a second ring 34. In the normal position of the parts with the cover-boat upon the main-boat, the links may be lightly lashed against the under surface of the air tank wall as shown in Fig. 5. With this construction after the main boat has been lowered the falls 36 may be again hoisted and the hooks 36 thereof caught in the rings 34c of the cover-boat. As shown in Fig. 5, the elongation of the loops of these links permit the links to be normally shoved back inside of the ends of the cover boat to permit the latter to properly set upon the main'boat, but when the rings thereon are to be engaged by the fall hooks the links may be drawn forwardly, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5. If now, the hooks 31 of the cover-releasing ropes are released from the halyards 20, the cover-boat will be swung entirely from the boat falls. Inasmuch as the points of supports formed by eyes 16 are below the center of gravity of the coverboat, the latter is in unstable equilibrium, and can or will be readily turned over to assume the position shown in Fig. 4, and being suspended from the falls, the cover-boat may be now lowered and used as a boat.

Having thus described the invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. The combination with a main boat, of a cover-boat forming a cover therefor when in inverted position, means for locking the cover-boat and main boat together, means for releasing such locking means, and means for then lowering the main boat and the cover-boat.

2. The combination with a main boat, of a cover-boat forming a cover therefor when in inverted position, means for lowering the main boat and simultaneously suspending the cover boat, and for then turning over the cover-boat and lowering it.

3. The combination with a main-boat, of a cover-boat forming a cover therefor when in inverted position, a lock between the main boat and the cover boat, means for suspending the cover-boat in inverted position, means for lowering the main boat, and for then turning over the cover-boat and lowering it.

l. In a boat-securing device, the combination with pivoted chocks, a shaft having an eccentric thereon forming a lock for such chocks, an extensible lever integrally secured to such shaft having a pivoted extension, apertures in the boat gunwales receiving the pivoted extensions of the levers, and means located above the gunwales for engaging such pivoted extension.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiix my name in the presence of witnesses.

JOHN MOGOLDRICK.

In the presence of- C. M. BAILEY, CLINTON LEE MOODY, W. M. GoURLY.

Copies 01 this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by add ressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G. 

